How Did it Begin?
Where do these things come from?
Sorry to say for me, but I think these are more common in overweight people. I would clearly fit that category now. I think you probably increase the odds by trying to be active while overweight.
About five years ago, I lost a lot of weight. I did so by combining a low carb diet with a running program. I completed several 5k's, 10k's, and six half marathons over the next few years. Life changed for me and the running and diet went south. I gained the weight back, but I periodically attempted to jump start my running. My theory, and it is just a theory, is that this helped to create a heel spur. I believe the body tries to compensate and the bone grows. It just doesn't work well.
Another possible contributing factor, based upon my uninformed theory, is a high ankle sprain I suffered about eight years ago. This has caused my left ankle to be more unstable than the right, perhaps changing my gait.
I was on a good running track in the Spring of this year. We took a vacation to Washington D.C. in June and I even was able to continue my running there. On top of this, we did a lot of walking. The heel might have hurt a bit before this (I believe it did), but it was really noticeable on this trip. I recall touching the back of my heel and feeling a shock wave of pain.
If you've ever been a runner, though, you know that pain comes and goes. Typically, you ignore it for a bit, or rest, or ice, or stretch, or foam roll, and it goes away. So I tried all of these things. Unfortunately, it just got worse.
I did a lot of Googling and ran across the three conditions described in my previous post. Finally in November I went to a podiatrist. They took my xray and I immediately saw the protrusion from the bottom of my heel. It isn't huge, but I guess it is big enough.
The doc confirmed it. I received instructions that I expected. Rest, ice, and stretch. On top of this, he gave me a Medrol dose pack. This is a combo steroid and anti-inflammatory. Once I completed this pack, I was to switch to diclofenac, a NSAID.
I followed instructions to a "T," although I didn't have a high degree of confidence. This approach definitely didn't remove the bone. But I gave it a good go. The stretches involved using a towel for slight resistance, wrapping it around the top of the foot while lying down, and moving the foot back and forth. This caused me even more pain, it seemed, but I kept at it. I iced a lot. I did as little as I could. I took the medicines. Throughout the two weeks, I really didn't notice a change.
What is the pain like? Well, oddly, while you are moving around you often (not always) don't notice. If I did, I'd feel either a burning or sticking (like a needle) pain in my heel, toward the bottom but radiating up and outward. The worst part of the day was the evening and at bedtime. The pain becomes intense. I would guess that it has to do with the damage done throughout the day and the position of the foot/tendon at night. Throbbing pain that often kept me awake. The amount of sleep I have lost, in fact, is one of the worst parts of it all. It has been difficult to function because I'm simply not sleeping well.
Another question I was wondering is how noticeable is it? For me, not very. I do see a slight bump out (possibly the bursa) on one heel and not the other. For what it is worth, the doc says he thinks I may have one on the right foot, as well, but it isn't bothering me (NOOOO!). Here's a photo of both; the right one is on top, the left (bad) ankle on the bottom. Forgive the dry heels. You can also see a little discoloration on the bottom one, along with a small bump out that isn't there on the top. Might have to look close, though.
Back to the doc after two weeks of conservative efforts. He asks me how it went and I tell him not much changed. He then proceeds to examine the bad heel. During the process, he grabs the tops of both of the feet and pushes them back (up) and pulls them (down). I about jumped off of the table. Wow, it hurt. And it hurt for days after.
He's a bit surprised that there is no improvement. The options provided are: a boot (immobilization) for a while, laser therapy, or surgery. I am in no rush to have surgery, but I don't have an option to be an inactive person. So I need it fixed. In all reality, in my case, the only way to fix it is surgery. So surgery it is. NOTE again: Conservative approaches do work for some people!
But some good news. There are a couple of ways to do this. In some cases, they have to remove the Achilles and then reattach it with up to four screws. In other cases, they can make an incision in the Achilles and either anchor it with screws or not have to anchor it at all. He thinks he can do the latter of the two. The recovery is somewhat easier, but not easy. Two weeks of non-weight bearing (NWB) followed by a boot that you are gradually weened off of. We're talking a few months.
The surgery is set for a week and a half later.
In the meantime, the pain skyrockets. I even contemplate an ER trip one evening because it hurts so bad! I called the doc and he leaves it up to me after offering some advice. I end up skipping it, but the doc schedules an MRI. I figure it is good to have a look before surgery.
The pain lessons over the Christmas holiday. It messes with your mind a bit because you start to think "I'm okay." But really, it was because I wasn't doing very much. Back to work, and a pre-surgery ceremonial walking of the dog (because I could) and the pain flares up again. Particularly during the evening and night.
That brings me to today. Surgery is in the morning. No eating after midnight. This will suck, but hopefully in the end it'll all be better.
Sorry to say for me, but I think these are more common in overweight people. I would clearly fit that category now. I think you probably increase the odds by trying to be active while overweight.
About five years ago, I lost a lot of weight. I did so by combining a low carb diet with a running program. I completed several 5k's, 10k's, and six half marathons over the next few years. Life changed for me and the running and diet went south. I gained the weight back, but I periodically attempted to jump start my running. My theory, and it is just a theory, is that this helped to create a heel spur. I believe the body tries to compensate and the bone grows. It just doesn't work well.
Another possible contributing factor, based upon my uninformed theory, is a high ankle sprain I suffered about eight years ago. This has caused my left ankle to be more unstable than the right, perhaps changing my gait.
I was on a good running track in the Spring of this year. We took a vacation to Washington D.C. in June and I even was able to continue my running there. On top of this, we did a lot of walking. The heel might have hurt a bit before this (I believe it did), but it was really noticeable on this trip. I recall touching the back of my heel and feeling a shock wave of pain.
If you've ever been a runner, though, you know that pain comes and goes. Typically, you ignore it for a bit, or rest, or ice, or stretch, or foam roll, and it goes away. So I tried all of these things. Unfortunately, it just got worse.
I did a lot of Googling and ran across the three conditions described in my previous post. Finally in November I went to a podiatrist. They took my xray and I immediately saw the protrusion from the bottom of my heel. It isn't huge, but I guess it is big enough.
The doc confirmed it. I received instructions that I expected. Rest, ice, and stretch. On top of this, he gave me a Medrol dose pack. This is a combo steroid and anti-inflammatory. Once I completed this pack, I was to switch to diclofenac, a NSAID.
I followed instructions to a "T," although I didn't have a high degree of confidence. This approach definitely didn't remove the bone. But I gave it a good go. The stretches involved using a towel for slight resistance, wrapping it around the top of the foot while lying down, and moving the foot back and forth. This caused me even more pain, it seemed, but I kept at it. I iced a lot. I did as little as I could. I took the medicines. Throughout the two weeks, I really didn't notice a change.
What is the pain like? Well, oddly, while you are moving around you often (not always) don't notice. If I did, I'd feel either a burning or sticking (like a needle) pain in my heel, toward the bottom but radiating up and outward. The worst part of the day was the evening and at bedtime. The pain becomes intense. I would guess that it has to do with the damage done throughout the day and the position of the foot/tendon at night. Throbbing pain that often kept me awake. The amount of sleep I have lost, in fact, is one of the worst parts of it all. It has been difficult to function because I'm simply not sleeping well.
Another question I was wondering is how noticeable is it? For me, not very. I do see a slight bump out (possibly the bursa) on one heel and not the other. For what it is worth, the doc says he thinks I may have one on the right foot, as well, but it isn't bothering me (NOOOO!). Here's a photo of both; the right one is on top, the left (bad) ankle on the bottom. Forgive the dry heels. You can also see a little discoloration on the bottom one, along with a small bump out that isn't there on the top. Might have to look close, though.
Back to the doc after two weeks of conservative efforts. He asks me how it went and I tell him not much changed. He then proceeds to examine the bad heel. During the process, he grabs the tops of both of the feet and pushes them back (up) and pulls them (down). I about jumped off of the table. Wow, it hurt. And it hurt for days after.
He's a bit surprised that there is no improvement. The options provided are: a boot (immobilization) for a while, laser therapy, or surgery. I am in no rush to have surgery, but I don't have an option to be an inactive person. So I need it fixed. In all reality, in my case, the only way to fix it is surgery. So surgery it is. NOTE again: Conservative approaches do work for some people!
But some good news. There are a couple of ways to do this. In some cases, they have to remove the Achilles and then reattach it with up to four screws. In other cases, they can make an incision in the Achilles and either anchor it with screws or not have to anchor it at all. He thinks he can do the latter of the two. The recovery is somewhat easier, but not easy. Two weeks of non-weight bearing (NWB) followed by a boot that you are gradually weened off of. We're talking a few months.
The surgery is set for a week and a half later.
In the meantime, the pain skyrockets. I even contemplate an ER trip one evening because it hurts so bad! I called the doc and he leaves it up to me after offering some advice. I end up skipping it, but the doc schedules an MRI. I figure it is good to have a look before surgery.
The pain lessons over the Christmas holiday. It messes with your mind a bit because you start to think "I'm okay." But really, it was because I wasn't doing very much. Back to work, and a pre-surgery ceremonial walking of the dog (because I could) and the pain flares up again. Particularly during the evening and night.
That brings me to today. Surgery is in the morning. No eating after midnight. This will suck, but hopefully in the end it'll all be better.
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